Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-21

and over the age Of p years. l know Of no
reason. moral or political, why, women should
not hold the office of notary public. speak OF
this here because have had applications from
worthy intelligent. capable women, which r.
have been compelled to refuse solely because OF
sex. Theduties Of notary public are not such
regarding woman's sphere. Females may all
ready, under the existing statute. hold the office
of county superintendent of public education
portance, and vastly more difficult TO fill than
the place of notary public. hope the legisla-
ture will so amend the law as to do away with
this restriction on account of sex.
soLD1ERs' HOME.
The territory should take the initial steps to
construct q home for disabled soldiers. We do
not reed this now, but the time is coming when
it will be required. There are between TO- GOO and
10000 old soldiers in Dakota. For the most part
will overtake some, and they should not be left
without provision. Our old soldiers must not
become mendicants or occupy poOr-houses. L
centage, either of the revenue or of tho bonds
redeemed, as fund for this purpose. and which
will in few years enable Us to construct home
worthy of the object to which it is dedicated.
TERRITORIAL MUSEUM.
few carloads of articles sent to the New Or
leans exposition were returned to the territory:
and stored in the capitol building. They are OF
little intrinsic value, but will possess much in
tsIest in the future rs an illustration Of the early
see to it that the collection is safely kept.
PUBLICATION OF THE LAWS.
Some means should be adopted by which leeis-
lative enactments can be brought more speedily
to the KNOWLEDGE of the people. Laws, nre
two to six months before there is any possibility
of their general distribution even among the
judicial officers and p1acticing attorneys Of the
quired to prepare the. laws for publication after
the close of each session of the legislature; and
during this period there must necessarily be
general as e the OF enact
the public. There are two ways by which this
objection can be oyercome; one is BY publication
in the newspapere in each county of the territnry
the other by providing that laws, except when
there exists an immediate emergency for their
taking effect. shall not go into operation until
they are regularly printed by official authority.
SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
recommend the passage of general law pro-
viding salaries instead of fees to county officers
While there are some objections to the salary
feature, it seems to me there arc many more to
the present system. In some cases the fees
allowed are insufficient 10 secuie the services of
competent men. while in other cases they largely
exceed even the most liberal compensation for
the services required, and naturally arouse COM
believe graduation of salaries can be made fair
alike to officials and the public, and which will
remove all Just cause of complaint on the part of
either.
In my message two years ago l called attention
to the necessity Of some uniform provision reg.
ulating the per diem. mileage and meetings Of
the board of public institutions. The amount
at least double what it should be. The lcsisln-
tnre should fl! the mileage and per diem, limit
the number of meetings for which pay or mile
age shall be received, and provide that any other
sessions of such boards shall be holden without
expense to the territory.
PosTPoNING TAXES.
recommend that the act passed Mt the last
session extending time for paying taxes be made
applicable to the present year. It is not certain
but that the statute of 1885 should be made per-
manent one; The time for paying, taxes under
convenient, and when taxpayers. as a rule. are
THE INSURANCE LAW.
Cnder our insurance law. process must be
served On all Dakota companies at the home of.
held in the court having jurisdiction in that To-
caity. The result is that persons suffering losses
which which, are contested by such companies must
dreds or miles to attend court thereby mourning
costs and expense which often amount to as
M much i! as the sum which they seek tS, recover.
and it s only fair to all parties that process
should be returnable in the county where the in
surance policy is held, the same as in the case OF
foreign companies.
thorough examination of the condition and
assets of companies is demanded by every p,in-
ciple of prudence. This examination should be
made mandatory, and the officer charged with
this duty should be required to make report
and publish 1t in the place where the main office
of the company is kept, or where it will best
come to the knowledge Of the public. The truth
49, the whole law needs thorough revising; not
SO much amendment as substitution.
SALE OF RAILWAY LAND FOR TAXES
A serious embarrassment has arisen under the
decision of the supreme court Of the United
States in relation to the taxation of lands, the
pany. In many cases these iands have been sold
for delinquent taxes, and have been purchased
by parties who hold title from tho county which
Of these taxes have boen paid into the territorial
treasury, and it is only just that when the coun-
ties are called upon to refund, the territory
s r;a return lts share to those thus effected.
ity. -| "-S'- 1ss'''"''' Q ""'"o'-
TITLES OF LAWS.
l recommend also the enactment of a statute
which shall prohibit the repeal OF amendment of
repealed or amended. The absence Of any such
prohibition not only confuses the public mind,
but Leads: or is liable to lead, to the greatest
abuse in legislative enactments.
APPOINTMENT OF REGENTS: DIRECTORS, ETC.
In many cases it is provided that the members
OF board shall bold their places for different
pei1oas as one Tor two years, one for four years.
aad one for sig years. Confusion arises in case
the fact that appointments to fill the vacancy can
only be made under the organic law for the Pc
ROD intervening between the occurrence and the
end of the next general assembly. The Question
arises, who is to fill the unexpired term Of the
person whose place is vacated. am inclined to
think the simplest and best way is to make the
terms of all officers Of public institutions two ,o
years as was dohe in the case of two or three Of
me institutions BY the last legislature. An
KIND regarding this matter, rs otherwise it will
ne rather difficult to determine just how many
sion. and FOR what terms '0'-
REVISING AND CODIFY1NG THE srArUrEs
Ihere has been no official revision and codi6
c 81. OF the laws of this territory since 1877.
W., we now have the session laws of 1879 1881 1879
1872, and the laws of this session viii make tx
Volumes ! NJ OF separate and distinct statute law
wnch one must examine to ascertain the legal
inc statutes are conflicting. and many Of them
are bbag 20 ia and Ct
and publication Of the lava: hnt X FL .,,s;ii